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 Raymond Strand Raymond Strand (Ray), husband, father and Dekka to his grandchildren was tragically taken from us on November 29, 2011 at aged 63. Ray was born on June 19, 1948 in Dunns, Berwickshire, Scotland to parents Francis (Frankie) and Charlotte Strand. Ray has an older half sister, Waltraud who lives in Germany. Ray spent the first 10 years of his life living on a farm in Grants House, Scotland, His father was a prison officer and was sent to work at Parkhurst prison on the Isle of Wight, so the family relocated in the most southerly tip of England. Ray started school but spoke with such a pronounced Scottish accent, his teachers sent him to elocution lessons, where he was taught to speak with an English accent so they could understand what he was saying. Ray joined the air cadets as an after school activity, and when he left school at age 15 his father marched him down to the army recruiting office where upon he was accepted into the Army Air Corp Apprentice School. He spent three years as an apprentice and went on into full manservice as an aircraft technician working on helicopters. In later years Ray went on to teach the Air Cadets in Dawson Creek. Ray was 18 when he volunteered to serve his country in an action the British army was fighting in Aden, South Arabia now called the South Yemen. Ray spent his time “up country” in the Radfan mountains, usually, just him and the helicopter pilot on one or another mission. It was about this time, a friend was given three sacks of mail from young girls who had read in the papers that young army soldiers were looking for pen friends. His friend gave him a handful of letters but Ray only replied to one, and that is when my sister came into his life. They began a love and friendship that has lasted throughout 42 years of marriage. “Bloody Hell She’s A Sunday School Teacher”. Now it was about this time, Me being older Brother to Kath, had some input into their blossoming relationship. Thick and fast, every other day, Kathleen would rush home from work asking, “where’s my letter. Where’s my letter? “you haven’t got one today”, I would tell her. I came up with brilliant ways of Letter hiding. Each day, they would be re-addressed - pinned to the ceiling –stuck to the back of the door even hidden in the budgies cage. When Ray came home, meeting him for the first time, he took me to one side, and said “Look if you ever do that again I’m going to >>>> you can only imagine what he said. Ray and Kathy were married August 16, 1969. However, as they were being married in England, in Northern Ireland the army was being sent into a new situation that had developed. Ray’s unit was on standby and although Ray and Kathy were allowed to get married, once back at base in Plymouth, Ray was ordered to Northern Ireland. He spent the first six months of married life in a new conflict. Upon his return to England Ray was presented with the British Empire Medal for services rendered to his country. Ray was just 21 years of age. Ray and Kathy spent two years in Germany and at the end of that tour they returned to England. In 1974 their son Paul was born and they settled into their new family life in England. In 1977 Ray was again posted to Northern Ireland and this was a difficult time for Ray as he did not want to leave his young son and his wife for another tour in Ireland. However, he did his duty and upon his return he was posted to Canada. They spent two years in Canada, and then back to Germany for another two years. Suits To Jeans the Canadian way. Ray was very smart, he always wore a suit, jacket, tie and highly polished shoes. He went out to Canada and came back with the very first pair of Jean’s that I had seen him in. Although Ray loved the Canadian way of life he still retained lots of British ways - his HAT CHOICE ….. Never A Baseball hat….. It was at this time Ray and Kathleen decided they wanted to give their son a better life so in 1981 Ray left the Army with the rank of Warrant Officer and they immigrated to Canada. They came directly to Dawson Creek and Ray worked at Westwind Aviation with John Todd and Larry Moody. In 1986 he started as a casual worker for Canada Post. He quickly became full time and he worked in Dawson Creek, Fort St. John and eventually became postmaster of Pouce Coupe post office. Ray and Kath became tai chi instructors, they have spent the last 19 years teaching many people tai chi, for the first couple of years in various locations around Dawson Creek, and for 17 years, they volunteered their services to anyone who wished to learn this graceful art in Tomslake. I Remember Kathleen & Ray doing A Set, or Form of Tai Chi in my garden in the UK so impressive. A mirror of each other ….this was one time that they were not holding hands as you know they always did wherever they went…. In 2000 Ray was very proud to become Grand Dad when Connor Michael was born. In 2005 a large group from Canada travelled to Portsmouth, England, where Paul and Krista were married in the same church as Paul’s parents. Ray was thrilled to have a daughter and especially one that gave him as good she got. They loved to tease one another. Wedding Trip Home…..what a party, some of the tradition’s of home…. How pleased Ray was to show the Canadians part of his English roots. Fish & Chips, English Pubs, Stonehenge. We even had a Canada Day BBQ in August…. Party, & more Parties, that was before the Wedding, Mum /Nanna said at the wedding she remembers the one thing that stood out for her, was watching Kathleen & Ray Dance so lovely that night on the dance floor at The Queens Hotel, she will never forget that. The Lessons paid off RAY… Ray went from only having one female in his life to having three females giving him a rough time. Krista’s sister Carrie came with the package and they too loved to tease and banter with one another. In 2007 Paul and Krista presented Ray with another grandson and as soon as Rian (A.K.A. Winston) could talk Grand Dad became Dekka. In 2009 Ray’s little princess, Kayla McKenzie was born. Ray tried to convince all he was going to be the strict grandparent, and then she would bat her big eyes and sit on Dekka’s knee and she immediately got whatever she had wanted in the first place. It was at this time that Ray said to Paul and Krista, you both really need to stop breeding; however, he was very proud once again when in August 2011 Kody Clay was born. Back in June 2011 – Ray and Kath came home As tradition, before Fish & Chips, we made the Trip to see Mr Rothery, a Medal collector. I took him down to the shop, parked the car, got to the shop and it was shut, a notice on the door said “Mr Rothery had died” to which Ray said, “BLOODY HELL he could have waited a week….. We weren’t to know that celebrating Rays 63rd birthday would be his last trip home, His Party was fun, but not as much fun as it was for Kathleen and her sister Jennifer. He took such delight as the two of them showed the younger one’s how to drink port correctly.. Ray was taken from us too soon and he will be sadly missed by his wife Kathy, his son Paul, daughter in-law Krista, and grandchildren, Conner, Rian, Kayla and Kody. As well, his large extended family both here in Canada and England. When it is our time to come and join you Ray, we will try to call ahead and tell you to...“put the kettle on”. A Social Gathering service was held on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at the Bergeron Funeral Social Room, Dawson Creek, British Columbia. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Raymond, may be made by way of donation to the: Charity of your choice. |
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Dawson Creek: (250)
782-2577 Serving Fort St. John |
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